IDAHO — Idaho law requires most drivers and passengers to wear seat belts, but the state still allows most people to ride unrestrained in the bed of a pickup truck.
The only exception applies to young children. State law requires children younger than 7 to ride inside the vehicle in an approved child safety seat or booster seat. Once a child reaches that age, Idaho law does not prohibit them from riding in the bed of a pickup.
That means passengers can legally ride in the back of a pickup on city streets, county roads and even interstate highways, where speeds can reach 65 mph or higher.
Idaho is one of a handful of states that places few restrictions on riding in truck beds. The law dates back in part to the state's agricultural roots, when pickups were commonly used to transport workers and family members around farms and ranches.
Safety advocates have long warned against the practice. Unlike passengers inside a vehicle, people riding in a truck bed have no seat belts, airbags or other protections in a crash. Even a sudden stop, sharp turn or minor collision can throw someone from the vehicle.
According to the National Institutes of Health, people who are ejected from a vehicle during a crash face a dramatically higher risk of serious injury or death. Researchers found that occupants who are thrown from a vehicle are about 40 times more likely to die than those who remain inside.
While the practice remains legal in Idaho, safety experts continue to recommend that all passengers ride inside a vehicle with a seat belt whenever possible.
